A nearly $30 million infusion of local and state funds has set the stage for construction of a new energy-efficient school in the Sheridan School District. Plans for the new building are already underway.

On Nov. 6, voters overwhelmingly passed a $6.5 million school-bond issue, and that unlocked a $23 million state BEST grant toward the construction of a new school for grades three through eight.

The new school will be on the campus of the Early Childhood Center and Sheridan Middle School.

Fort Logan Elementary will be decommissioned as part of the BEST grant requirements that facilities be more energy-efficient, said Cyndi Wright, director of school facilities and transportation.

“The word I use is ‘revival’ — it’s a revitalization and revival of Sheridan,” Superintendent Michael Clough said. “Our real hope is the new building will attract new young families to the community.”

The school district has seen a steady decline in enrollment over the past decade as a result of an aging community.

The new school, yet to be named, will be built behind and around the building that houses administration offices and the ECC, eliminating some trailers there now.

Wright said the new school will cost an estimated $25.7 million and the upgrade of the current middle school for other uses $2.4 million. The new school will hold about 720 students.

“We’re really going to be able to tackle a lot of challenges we’ve been dealing with for years with the new school design,” Clough said.

The school will feature state-of-the-art technology focused on energy efficiency, a large shared gym, a shared cafeteria and upgraded science facilities.

The design phase will take about eight months. Construction is set to begin in December 2013 and take 12 to 15 months.

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